# Sequels (and remakes) that are (as good or) better than the original **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 20, 2015, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sequels-and-remakes-that-are-as-good-or-better-than-the-original/722989 "2015-06-20T01:33:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sequels-and-remakes-that-are-as-good-or-better-than-the-original/722989/21 "2015-06-20T10:41:35Z")
**Last of the Mohicans** (1992) Script was based on the (inferior) 1936 film adaptation. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sequels-and-remakes-that-are-as-good-or-better-than-the-original/722989/22 "2015-06-20T11:03:12Z")
Damning with faint praise, but: Angelina Jolie’s second outing as Lara Croft. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sequels-and-remakes-that-are-as-good-or-better-than-the-original/722989/23 "2015-06-20T15:40:17Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I assume you mean _The Wiz_, the 1978 musical starring Diana Ross, and that it was not a remake of _The Wizard of Oz_ (1939). I suspect **Reality Chuck** may have meant that the 1939 _The Wizard of Oz_ itself was a superior remake, since there was an earlier (and much lesser-known) version from 1925. No I knew there was a silent Wizard. I also would call the wiz a separate original work. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sequels-and-remakes-that-are-as-good-or-better-than-the-original/722989/24 "2015-06-20T17:22:22Z")
The Empire Strikes Back. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sequels-and-remakes-that-are-as-good-or-better-than-the-original/722989/25 "2015-06-20T18:04:56Z")
I still think _Star Wars_ was a better movie than _SW:ESB_, but I’ll definitely second _Aliens_ and _STII: Wrath of Khan._ ---
**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sequels-and-remakes-that-are-as-good-or-better-than-the-original/722989/26 "2015-06-20T18:13:26Z")
I really enjoyed the remake of **Zero Hour** (the 1957 proto-disaster movie). They didn’t treat the original with too much reverence but I think that just improved things. TCMF-2L ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sequels-and-remakes-that-are-as-good-or-better-than-the-original/722989/27 "2015-06-20T18:18:30Z")
I don’t know if it is a better Work of Art, but I preferred the remake of _The Thomas Crown Affair._ In the original, Crown is a bank robber. In one of the robberies, one of his henchmen shoots a bank guard. Having been on the receiving end of workplace violence, I lose all sympathy for Crown at that point. In the remake, the crime is an art heist, and nobody gets hurt. I have a much easier time rooting for Crown in that one. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sequels-and-remakes-that-are-as-good-or-better-than-the-original/722989/28 "2015-06-20T18:24:08Z")
I know people will disagree with me on this, but **Terminator 2: Judgement Day**. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sequels-and-remakes-that-are-as-good-or-better-than-the-original/722989/29 "2015-06-20T18:51:19Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > I still think _Star Wars_ was a better movie than _SW:ESB_, but I’ll definitely second _Aliens_ and _STII: Wrath of Khan._ I like Aliens a lot but it was full of audience pandering. The original was more of an adult film, an original. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sequels-and-remakes-that-are-as-good-or-better-than-the-original/722989/30 "2015-06-20T19:43:24Z")
I’d argue that THE AVENGERS is a sequel to IRON MAN and IRON MAN 2 – because, well, the top-billed actor is once again Robert Downey Jr, reprising his role as Tony Stark by once again bouncing dialogue off Samuel L Jackson and Gwyneth Paltrow and Clark Gregg and Scarlett Johansson and Paul Bettany – and I’d argue that it qualifies. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sequels-and-remakes-that-are-as-good-or-better-than-the-original/722989/31 "2015-06-20T20:29:31Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > Those are originals of which there are better sequels. Pray tell? No, those are the sequels Originals [Manhunter](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091474/) [The Detective](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062883/) ---
**Author:** ![mistymage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mistymage/32/459_2.png) [@mistymage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mistymage)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sequels-and-remakes-that-are-as-good-or-better-than-the-original/722989/32 "2015-06-20T20:55:27Z")
Dawn of the Dead (2004) is much better than Dawn of the Dead (1978) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sequels-and-remakes-that-are-as-good-or-better-than-the-original/722989/33 "2015-06-20T21:11:03Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > Oh a wiseguy huh? You’re right, but: > The Wizard is a musical, different genre than previous filmed version and different music than any play. I consider it an original work, and unduplicatable too. How is it not a remake of _The Wizard of Oz_ with music added? _Victor Victoria_ would also qualify: it’s a remake a German film with music added. _Airplane!_ is better than the original _Zero Hour_, and before anyone objects, note that the films [shared a surprising amount of dialog](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dO90hdkeKrs). ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sequels-and-remakes-that-are-as-good-or-better-than-the-original/722989/34 "2015-06-20T22:49:11Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > How is it not a remake of _The Wizard of Oz_ with music added? > > _Victor Victoria_ would also qualify: it’s a remake a German film with music added. > _Airplane!_ is better than the original _Zero Hour_, and before anyone objects, note that the films [shared a surprising amount of dialog](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dO90hdkeKrs). Another version of a book, independent of the prior version, and this time as a musical, with diff framing devices and plot points…I’m not seeing it as a remake. I’m not gonna commit seppukku over it tho. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sequels-and-remakes-that-are-as-good-or-better-than-the-original/722989/35 "2015-06-20T23:20:30Z")
Much respect to Vincent Price, but I gotta go with Jeff Goldblum’s outing as THE FLY. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sequels-and-remakes-that-are-as-good-or-better-than-the-original/722989/36 "2015-06-20T23:26:51Z")
> [@mistymage](#): > > Dawn of the Dead (2004) is much better than Dawn of the Dead (1978) How DARE you? Pistols at dawn! Oh, wait, that didn’t really work too well in, “Survival Of The Dead,” did it? ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sequels-and-remakes-that-are-as-good-or-better-than-the-original/722989/37 "2015-06-20T23:28:14Z")
```auto u ``` > [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I don’t expect many too agree with this, but I like _Sorcerer_ (1977) better than _The Wages of Fear_ (1953). So do I. Was thrilled when it finally came out on Blu-ray! ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sequels-and-remakes-that-are-as-good-or-better-than-the-original/722989/38 "2015-06-21T01:30:15Z")
> [@Catamount](#): > > I know people will disagree with me on this, but **Terminator 2: Judgement Day**. No, I think you’re right. ---
**Author:** ![Ryan\_Liam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ryan_liam/32/3965_2.png) [@Ryan\_Liam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ryan_Liam)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sequels-and-remakes-that-are-as-good-or-better-than-the-original/722989/39 "2015-06-21T01:38:53Z")
Die Hard with a vengence ---
**Author:** ![IT\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3ec8ea/32.png) [@IT\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IT_Guy)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sequels-and-remakes-that-are-as-good-or-better-than-the-original/722989/40 "2015-06-21T02:55:31Z")
[To Be or Not To Be (1983)](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086450/) - Mel Brooks, Anne Bancroft; remake of [To Be or Not To Be (1942)](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035446/) - Jack Benny, Carole Lombard The Mel Brooks version is infinitely better. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sequels-and-remakes-that-are-as-good-or-better-than-the-original/722989.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sequels-and-remakes-that-are-as-good-or-better-than-the-original/722989.md?page=3)